Solitary 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose avid spinous process cholangiocarcinoma metastasis proven on CT guided percutaneous needle bone biopsy.

Abstract

A 65-year-old female with newly diagnosed cholangiocarcinoma was referred for a FDG PET/CT for initial staging. There was a region of moderate FDG avidity localizing to the hepatic hilum representing the primary site of malignancy. An unexpected moderately FDG avid focus was demonstrated in the spinous process of the T11 vertebra with no corresponding mass lesion seen on low dose CT and no evidence of distant metastatic disease elsewhere. A percutaneous CT guided needle bone biopsy was performed which confirmed a solitary T11 spinous process metastasis on histopathology.

Keywords

• PET/CT
• Cholangiocarcinoma
• Metastasis
• Cancer
• Bone biopsy